Facilities

I spent some time this weekend riding around watching the streets flood in Clemson. In the meantime, I took notice of how things look now and what they could look like around here in the next ten years.

A lot of us remember Death Valley without either upper deck. Those fans will remember more trees in the East endzone plus a tree or two in the corners of the west endzone.

I remember when the only indoor facilities were Littlejohn, Jervey and Fike. Tennis didn't have one nor did track. Football certainly did not have one.

Sure the place has changed a lot in the next ten years too, but exactly what is still to be determined in most cases.

The new bridge at Riggs Field is still taking shape, and I am still having a hard time visualizing what that will look like.

There is talk of moving the tennis facilities to a new location and converting the current tennis facilities into soccer fields. I am not sure if this will happen but I am told that is a possibility.

The baseball field renovation is underway. I like the concept of new player facilities on the first base side but for the life of me I cannot figure out why we are moving home plate out. To me that is the wrong direction and provides long-term issues.

I think many agree that the baseball and bat issues have caused a lack of home runs and thus run production has decreased in the past few years. So I see why we would want to shorten the field.

I just don't think we are moving it in the right direction. I would move the fences in. By moving the plate out it is taking the game farther from most of the fans. I understand they are talking about adding a few rows of premium seating behind home plate but the fact remains that the game will be farther from most of the fans. The fans in the outfield stands will stay the same distance from the action but most of the fans that attend games are sitting in the stands behind home plate. Why do we want to take the game farther away from the majority of the fans? Also, what happens if the ball or bat is improved and the ball flies farther? If we moved the fences in, then we could just move them back out. But if you moved home plate out then you can't move the fences because of the outfield stands. Moving home plate out limits future moves.

On the basketball arena, I am still not sure of the answer. I have had professionals in the industry of building sports arenas say it is financially a terrible decision to build a new building. On the other hand, my heart tells me I would love to see a new home for Clemson basketball. Something has to be done about basketball but I am not sure what that something is.

I know it would not be a popular move but I would move the football practice fields to lot five, right behind the west endzone. I think that would make Death Valley the most unique facility in the country.

Dan Radakovich and his team are seeing a lot of turnover and it will be interesting to see the direction the athletic department takes with facilities in the next few years.

The Ryan Harless Foundation has opened the bidding on an awesome golf outing. You and three friends can play a round of golf on Sunday, July 14th with Clemson Recruiting Coordinator Jeff Scott and Mickey Plyler at Greenville Country Club's Chanticleer Course. This is the top ranked course in the upstate of South Carolina. Bidding will end on Wednesday, July 10. You can place your bids on the Ryan Harless Foundation Facebook page or by email at [email protected] Please add your email address when you bid.

Two Clemson-Georgia Tickets

The Ryan Harless Foundation has opened an auction for two Lower Deck tickets to the Clemson-Georgia game. Bidding will end Friday, July 12 at the RHF Family Fun Fest.

You can place your bids on the Ryan Harless Foundation Facebook page or by email at [email protected] Please add your email address when you bid.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Prayer List

We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:

If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.